WSJ: Priebus Should Drop Threats Over Hillary Shows

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus should stop threatening to deny NBC and CNN a role in the 2016 Republican presidential debates if they broadcast planned shows about Hillary Clinton, the Wall Street Journal says in an editorial.

Whatever he says won't stop liberal media bias, the paper says, but his threats make him look like "Lord Republican Media Censor."

The Journal says that Priebus is right to say that the programs will almost certainly provide a biased, positive portrayal of Clinton. "NBC is planning a miniseries starring Diane Lane as the former first lady, and you can bet she'll come off as a sympathetic and glamorous heroine.

"CNN's show is a documentary, and the same expectation applies. Don't wait for references to the missing Rose Law Firm billing records."

Priebus should focus his attention instead on getting the right moderators for the debates, the Journal says. In the 2012 primary debates, the candidates spent far too much time discussing contraception and gay marriage, rather than the economy and foreign policy, in large part because some moderators acted as if this is all Republican voters care about.

The Republican Party can't do much about liberal media bias, but it does have a say in who moderates GOP primary debates. And that is a power it should exercise.

Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus should stop threatening to deny NBC and CNN a role in the 2016 Republican presidential debates if they broadcast planned shows about Hillary Clinton, the Wall Street Journal says in an editorial.